God worked a miracle to help Prabhat get his bicycle back from two thieves.

India

2 thieves repent

by Prabhat Mandal Samrath, Gospel Outreach WorkerPosted July 16, 2017

I was riding my bicycle home one day from the town of Kotpad in East Central India. The path home took me through a dense jungle area. As I approached the jungle, two young men sprang out from behind the trees, demanding, “Give us your money.” Knowing I had only 10 rupees in my bag, I handed it over to them. They checked my bag and found nothing else except my Bible. Since they didn’t find any more money, they forced me to give them my wristwatch. Then, confiscating my bicycle, they rode off in the opposite direction.

Later, as I was walking toward home, I heard someone calling from behind. When I turned around, I saw the same two young men who had robbed me earlier. I was scared to confront them, thinking they might intend to harm me. I started to run.

One of the young men riding my bicycle finally caught up with me. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “We have come to return what we stole from you.” He handed me my wrist watch and returned my bicycle. Then they proceeded to give me 1,000 rupees of their own money. Amazed, I could hardly believe what had just happened. Certainly God had intervened and changed the hearts of these two young men. God graciously spared me from any harm and gave me back my only form of transportation, allowing me to continue my ministry.

Another time, I visited a nearby village to spend some time with relatives. In the evening, I saw people excitedly gathering in a house. My curiosity was aroused, so I went to see what all the excitement was about. A Hindu priest had come to chase the devil out of a young girl. He chanted his mantras; but the more he chanted, the more the girl exhibited supernatural forces, giving her amazing physical power. The priest could not control the girl and soon declared he was helpless and could do nothing for her.

I watched for an hour as the spectacle continued. Finally, I felt it was time for me to intervene in the proceedings. I asked the girl’s parents whether I could be of some help. They laughed at me and asked, “If the priest can’t help, what can you possibly do?”

“Don’t be afraid. We have come to return what we stole from you.”

I responded to their challenge, saying, “With God’s help, it is possible to give relief to your daughter.” They replied, “Go ahead, and try your luck.”

I stood in silent prayer, asking, “God, please allow this incident to be a witness to everyone so they will believe in You.” I asked for a glass of water and then began to pray aloud. While I was praying, the girl started yelling and became increasingly restless. She challenged me, saying, “You can do nothing about my situation.” I continued praying. When I finally said “Amen,” I took some of the water and sprinkled it on the girl’s head.

Speaking through the girl’s voice, a demon said, “I am leaving her, but I will come back soon.”

I gave the girl the remaining water to drink. Her appearance returned to normal, and she began speaking in her usual voice. The onlookers expressed surprise that the demon had left the girl. They asked, “How did you get the demon to leave her?” I told them about the powerful God I serve. Some of them have asked me to tell them more about this God, and I promised to visit them in their homes and give them Bible studies.

Please pray for me and my family as we continue to serve God in this area.

Prabhat Mandal Samrath works in the village of Botignda in Odisha (Orissa) State, East Central India.

Miracle of the rain

Posted May 29, 2017

India—In a village where I serve as a GO worker, the rainy season should start in June. However, one year no rain came. The farmers had already sown their seeds and were waiting for the rain. Days passed, but the rain did not come. The farmers gathered together and asked me to pray for rain. Other church members accompanied me to the fields where we prayed and fasted for a whole day and night.

The Lord heard our prayers and sent torrents of rain that very night. We praise God and thank Him for the miracle of rain.

One day a businessman was involved in a terrible accident on a bridge. He fell off the bridge into the river below.

Saved by the Man in White

by Akey Yao as told to Karen WintermeyerPosted May 29, 2017

Not long ago an Adventist businessman stopped coming to church. He needed money, so he started working on Sabbath. One day he was involved in a terrible accident on a bridge. He fell off the bridge into the river below. Rescuers sent him to the hospital where he remained unconscious for three days.

When he started to wake up, he could hear people talking and was amazed to find himself in a hospital. He asked what had happened to him. The only thing he remembered about the accident was that someone dressed in white had grabbed him out of the water and saved him.

Unfortunately, when he woke up he was totally blind. After eight days in the hospital, the doctors told him, “We can’t do anything more for you here.” So a sister came and took him home.

He had been blind for eight days when I went to see him. He told me what had happened and asked me, “How can I could be healed of my blindness? I responded, “You should go to an eye hospital and have the doctors check you to see if something can be done.” I then encouraged him in the Lord and asked if I could return to visit again. He confessed his sins, and I prayed for his healing on that Tuesday.

Wednesday evening, the next day, I got word that the businessman was able to see again. I visited him to witness God’s miracle and join him in thanking God. To this day, we worship together in our Adventist church.

After returning to church, the businessman had a dream. He saw demonic powers saying they had caused the accident. Some Africans believe that demons live in certain waters. When the businessman was sinking in the water, however, he saw a man in white take hold of him and save him. The demons said they wanted to possess him, but someone greater had rescued him out of the water.

We Gospel Outreach workers may not have much education with formal degrees, but God still works miracles for our ministry.

Akey Yao is a Gospel Outreach worker in Togo, West Africa. Karen Wintermeyer and her husband, Glen, are Gospel Outreach Canada regional directors for West Africa.

The doctor said, “We can’t do anything for Kijani. He is going to die.” I told the doctor, “God can do anything.”

West Africa

God can do anything

by Akey Yao as told to Karen WintermeyerPosted May 29, 2017

One day when I came back from work, a friend called and said his little brother, Kijani,* was in the hospital and very ill. “Hurry and bring your Bible,” he exclaimed. We went to the hospital together.

When we arrived at the hospital, several doctors surrounded Kijani’s bed. We stood back and watched as Kijani’s condition worsened. The doctors seemed helpless. We started praying. A doctor noticed us praying. He came over to us and said, “We can’t do anything for Kijani. He is going to die.” I told the doctor, “God can do anything.”

All the doctors left. Kijani was unconscious and started breathing slower and slower. Eventually, we couldn’t see any sign of breathing. As we held his hands, they got colder and colder. We were sure he was dead.

We continued praying, and then another patient in the large room called out, “You cannot heal him.” He explained to us where we should take Kijani’s body. I responded, “God can heal anyone,” and we continued praying. I was impressed to ask the Lord, “By this afternoon, please make Kijani start breathing again.” Then I asked all the patients in the room to join us in prayer. That very afternoon Kijani started breathing, got out of bed, and stood up healed!

While we were praying, another patient in that room was also healed. He was an old man who did not know about God, but he experienced the fact that God can do anything. He started asking questions about God. Since he, too, was healed, he left the hospital with us and the young boy that was just raised to life. The old man began to study the Bible with us, and now he always comes and worships with us.

*Not his real name.

Akey Yao is a Gospel Outreach worker in Togo, West Africa. Karen Wintermeyer and her husband, Glen, are Gospel Outreach Canada regional directors for West Africa.

Refugee camps are often hopeless places of refuge for those fleeing civil war. Madra has brought good news about Jesus to many who live in the camps.

Saved for God’s army

Posted May 25, 2017

SOUTH SUDAN—Working in countries like Sudan presents many dangers and challenges. A group called the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) comes into villages in countries like Uganda, South Sudan, and the Congo. They abuse and mutilate women and capture men and boys, forcing them to join their army.

Growing up, Madra went to a school operated by a Christian denomination. Here Madra read his Bible and joined in the singing of hymns. Through the influence of his brother, he learned about the Sabbath and was baptized as a Seventh-day Adventist.

“God, these are your people. They don’t know what they are doing. Please provide a way for our escape!”

In 1981, civil war broke out between North and South Sudan so he fled to a refugee camp. In a raid by the LRA, he along with 17 other men and boys were captured. Their hands were bound so that they felt paralyzed. Eventually, the soldiers untied their hands and made each one carry a 110-pound sack of corn all night into the thick of a forest guided only by a flashlight. In the morning, they were allowed to have a 30-minute rest. All through this experience, Madra was earnestly praying. The soldiers searched everyone looking for money. Madra had only his Bible in his pocket, but for some reason, the soldiers didn’t take it. Then they continued their march until late afternoon when they were finally told to rest under a tree.

Madra prayed, “God, these are your people. They don’t know what they are doing. Please provide a way for our escape!” Just then, the commander stepped forward and unexpectedly asked, “Who wants to join the Lord’s Resistance Army?” Madra told him, “We can’t, because we are refugees.” The commander replied, “OK, you can go.” This was an absolute miracle!

Madra helped to bring many people to Jesus in the refugee camp and to plant and build a church. In January 2016, he joined Gospel Outreach as an evangelist.

You may not think of bears when you think of India, but they can be deadly for those traveling through the jungle after dark.

India

God protects and delivers

‘We are afraid for your safety,’ the villagers said.

by Syam Sundar Nayak, Gospel Outreach WorkerPosted February 6, 2017

I live in the village of Porsola in eastern India and also care for a church in Kondinga, a village located about 6 kilometers (a little over 3.5 miles) from my home. Every morning, after putting my Bible and a water bottle inside my bag, I ride my bicycle through the jungle to Kondinga where I visit members and other interested villagers. Many wild animals live in the jungle along the way, but I am not afraid, because I know the Lord is with me and will always guide and protect me.

One day as I was preparing to return home from Kondinga, the local village people encouraged me to spend the night before making my return journey. “Wait until morning to travel back home since it is now getting dark,” they said. “A bear lives in the jungle,” they continued. “It has been killing people, and we are afraid for your safety.”

I really wanted to return home. So, after praying with them and requesting God’s protection, I began the ride back to my village of Porsola. Thankfully, I reached home without any problem.

The next morning, however, I was surprised when a man from Kondinga came to thank me, saying, “Because of you I was saved from death last night!”

“How am I responsible for saving you from death?” I replied. “I didn’t even see you last night.”

He explained. “I was about to be attacked by a bear, when suddenly I saw you ahead of me, going in the same direction. There were two men dressed in white robes traveling beside you. I was really scared when I saw them, but I recognized you and followed you. The bear didn’t even move when you went by, and since I was close to you, he didn’t attack me either.”

I told the man, “It must have been God who sent his angels to protect both of us.” Then I invited him to come visit my home. When he arrived, I called my family members together to pray with us and to thank the Lord for His protection and for sparing our lives. This man had been attending another church. However, after this experience, he has started to attend church with me regularly. I am now giving him Bible studies.

“I was about to be attacked by a bear, when suddenly I saw you ahead of me, going in the same direction. There were two men dressed in white robes traveling beside you.”

Please pray for both of us so that we can be witnesses for our Lord who protected us so miraculously from the bear that night.

Another night, as I was sleeping soundly, someone knocked on my door about 2 a.m. I was surprised when I looked and saw the time, since I was not expecting anyone at that time of night. When I opened the door, I saw a man whom I recognized as one of our villagers. He said, “Please come and pray for my daughter. She is possessed by an evil spirit.”

I, along with my wife and some other church members, agreed to accompany him to his house. We started to pray. The small, devil-possessed girl was wildly throwing everything she could find, tossing it around the home. As we continued praying, the girl became even more aggressive.

After praying together with the church members for two hours, the evil spirit at last left the girl. She fainted and later came to her senses, in a weakened state. Some of the non-Christians witnessed the devil being driven away by prayer, and have asked me to give them Bible studies.

Please pray for me and my ministry.

Syam Sundar Nayak is a Gospel Outreach worker living with his wife and two children in Porsola Village in eastern India.

Formerly of another protestant faith, Felix became a baptized Seventh-day Adventist in 2002. He and his wife, Jeannet, are shown here with two of their children.

Guinea

Saved from poisoning

Posted January 12, 2017

Gospel Outreach worker Felix Kiamou Delamou conducted a one-week evangelistic series in the village of Benjano. He started on Sunday and finished the following Sabbath. Since he did not speak the language of this village, a friend of his, who was not an Adventist, came to translate his message.

On the sixth day of the meetings, a fetish priest (who mediates between the spirit and physical worlds) was sent by a man to kill Felix and the interpreter by poisoning them. Since this was the first time the fetish priest had come to the meetings, he was invited to eat with the speakers that evening. Not knowing the priest had been sent on a special mission to poison their food and kill them, they were happy to see him.

Toward the end of the meal, the priest got up very quickly, washed his hands and left. Just before leaving, he secretly poisoned the soup. The others continued eating until all the food was finished. An hour after the meal, the translator started complaining about stomach pain. He was rushed to a small clinic in the village, but one hour later he died.

When the fetish priest was summoned by the chief of the village for inquiries, he was surprised that nothing happened to Felix, the evangelist. This was a powerful testimony in that village. As a result, some gave their lives to Jesus.

Felix Kiamou Delamou is a Gospel Outreach worker in the Guinean village of Koyamah on the southwest coast of Africa.

Soni was healed when Gospel Outreach worker Rupinder Singh and the Dabwali church members knelt around him and prayed for his healing.

India

How God transformed my life

by Soni (as told to Rupinder Singh)Posted January 12, 2017

My name is Soni. I come from a village in Sirsa, North India. Recently, my life has been transformed. Here is how it happened.

Several months ago, I was an active young man enjoying life. I wanted to become a teacher. One day as I traveled home, I developed a strange headache and heard buzzing in my ears. Upon arriving home, my mother gave me some pain medicine, and I went to sleep. However, I had very bad dreams as I slept. I heard voices and began hitting my head on the wall.

My parents became worried and took me to a doctor. He gave me some medicine which made me sleepy. I could feel someone pushing me. After I told my parents what was happening, they scolded me and told me to go back to sleep.

“After a few hours of prayer, I was feeling strange as if I had become lighter. I became drowsy and sleepy. I thought perhaps I had died.”

When I awoke, my head still ached. I did not know what to do. Every day I got worse. My parents kept giving me medicines the doctor prescribed, but when the effect wore off, I would run out of the house screaming and shouting.

Finally, my parents took me to a mental hospital. There doctors gave me electric shock treatments, but to no avail. The doctor said I was mentally ill and must be admitted to the hospital. However, my parents decided to take me home and again gave me medicine to make me sleep. Whenever I awakened, I would scream and bang my head.

My parents were desperate to find help. They called Muslims to perform exorcism rites over me. Yet I did not improve. One day I even tried to commit suicide. Fortunately, my mother was able to prevent me from doing this.

Eventually, one of my cousins came to visit and saw my condition. He told me, “You should go with me to the Adventist church in Dabwali. I attend this church regularly and feel relaxed and happy. God helps to solve all of my problems.”

Reluctantly, my parents allowed me to go with my cousin to church. There I met Rupinder Singh and the other members. I had heard people say, “All Christians eat meat, drink alcohol and have no morals.” But I did not see any of these things at the Dabwali church. People there looked happy and peaceful. Their food was simple vegetarian fare–rice, dal, and vegetables.

After eating, the church members gathered around me. They began to read the Bible and sing songs. My headache increased at first, and I started to hear voices in my ears. I wanted to run away, but they forced me to sit still. After a few hours of prayer, I was feeling strange as if I had become lighter. I became drowsy and sleepy. I thought perhaps I had died. Then I saw my cousin with the church members and realized that I had been healed.

I returned home very happy. When I slept that night, I did not have any problems.

My parents were overjoyed and allowed me to go to church whenever I wished. I am now fully healed and have returned to my normal life. I attend church every Sabbath and am learning more about Jesus and His many amazing ways. Now I have the desire to become a Christian. I want my parents to come to church with me. However, they are finding it difficult because they are afraid of relatives and other villagers. My mother attends church sometimes, and I pray that soon my father will attend also.

I praise God for healing me and for those who prayed with me. Please pray for me and my family.

Rupinder Singh is a Gospel Outreach evangelist working in Dabwali, North India.

Pathfinders celebrate the ability of the blue jeepney to carry them to a jamboree. This was the only vehicle that made it to the destination. The others gave up on the slippery, steep dirt path.

The miracle jeep

by Fred Webb, Regional DirectorPosted May 11, 2016

Edgar is the driver of the miracle jeep, which he resurrected after many people thought the jeep had taken its last trip.

In 1996 an old four-wheel drive military jeep was donated to the SULADS student organization on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. When the jeep arrived at Mountain View College, the SULADS workers were overjoyed.

The jeep, however, required major modifications and maintenance before it could be placed in service. Fluids needed to be changed and batteries purchased. Two wheels were modified as spare tires to fit the jeep. A body was built to mount on the flat-bed chassis making it safe for transporting people, and a roof was welded to the jeep’s top to enclose the cab.

The jeep with its military olive-drab green paint would be a sure target for rebels in the mountains, so it was repainted bright blue with a white top. Then the SULADS logo was painted on the doors for easy recognition. At last, the jeep was ready for service.

Students who had completed their term as SULADS workers in the mountains still had an evangelistic zeal burning in their hearts. They wanted to continue supporting the work that had been started in the mountains. Thus, the SULADS jeep made weekly trips into the mountains to Kalagangan. The cost of gasoline for that large six-cylinder engine was about $30 (USD) per trip. This seemed excessive, so a six-cylinder Isuzu diesel engine was located and installed in the jeep, resulting in a reduced fuel cost per trip of $8 (USD).

“Lord, we thank you for providing this jeep. Now it is threatened. Please intervene and save our jeep.”

One Friday, the regular jeep driver was unavailable, so another student agreed to drive. The trip required crossing a river 16 times. As they made one river crossing, the driver looked and saw a wall of water like a flash flood coming at him. He panicked and stalled the engine. As the water rose, the jeep was soon flooded. Students jumped out and swam to shore. The driver climbed out and sat on the top. Logs and other debris tumbled down the river, but nothing hit the jeep. The students gathered and prayed, “Lord, we thank you for providing this jeep. Now it is threatened. Please intervene and save our jeep.”

A smaller jeepney came to the same crossing. The students asked the driver to pull the SULADS jeep out of the river. This driver was fearful that his small jeepney could not pull the larger vehicle, but was persuaded to try. When the smaller jeepney approached the river, they discovered the cable was about 10 feet too short to reach the SULADS jeep. As the students continued to pray, the jeep began to float in the water, but rather than floating downstream, it moved straight forward to the end of the cable and settled back down.

The students hooked the cable to the SULADS jeep, and with the brakes set and the transmission in gear, the smaller jeepney pulled the SULADS jeep out onto the river bank. The students cheered and retrieved their backpacks from the waterlogged jeep. As the students pulled out their wet clothes, one suddenly cried out, “My Bible is dry!” The others also found their Bibles dry in the midst of wet clothes.

The driver of the SULADS jeep tried the starter, and the diesel engine roared to life. They went on their way experiencing an uneventful trip the rest of the weekend.

Upon returning to Mountain View College, they reported this story to me. I immediately checked the oil and found it very foamy, indicating water had mixed with the oil. We drained the oil, flushed the engine with diesel, and added fresh oil. That engine is still running steadily 20 years later!

In following years, students experienced many other miraculous events relating to this jeep, earning it the well-deserved reputation of being the SULADS miracle jeep.

Fred Webb is the Gospel Outreach regional director for the Philippines and former financial consultant at Mountain View College.

Saved by a pickle

Posted February 16, 2016

Many people have been in a pickle. Few, however, can claim to have been saved by a pickle–not a difficult dilemma or confusing situation, but an honest-to-goodness preserved cucumber. But I* truly can make such a claim. I’m more than 80 years old and have lived through World War II, the Chinese Civil War and the Great Cultural Revolution. As a teenager, I fought with the Communist Party against the Japanese. President Mao and the Communist Party persuaded me there was no god. For more than 65 years, I was a determined atheist.

My son, a Christian, continually asked me to accept Jesus as my Savior. My reply was simple: “I am a die-hard member of the Communist Party. Jesus was just a regular human being. He’s not a god! Anyhow, I’m near to death. Why should I change my mind and believe in Jesus now?” My son could only reply that he and his family would pray for me every day.

My son and his family also asked the members of his church to visit me. At the beginning, I didn’t even notice they were Christians. My son was afraid to tell me they were Gospel Outreach pioneer missionaries wanting to give me Bible studies. I just thought they were nice, kind people.

“I am 80, an old man with only 10 teeth. If your Jesus can help me eat a pickle, I will try to believe in Him.”

Once a week they visited me, asking me to share stories from the Sino-Japanese War. We became friends, and they eventually started talking about the Bible. I was shocked! Despite my friendship with them, I had no interest in hearing about Jesus. Silly as it was, I told the pioneers, “I am 80, an old man with only 10 teeth. If your Jesus can help me eat a pickle, I will try to believe in Him.” In my heart I wanted a reason to reject Jesus, so I confronted the pioneers with my difficult challenge.

Despite my silly and stubborn attitude, the two pioneers did not give up on me. They visited me regularly, and my wife was moved by their faithfulness and enthusiasm. During their visits, the pioneers shared messages from Proverbs with me. I found them very interesting and began reading the Bible for myself. My son’s family, the two pioneers, and their church members prayed for me every day.

Finally, I tried to pray to Jesus. To be honest, it was more of a challenge than a prayer. I told Him that if He could make it possible for me to eat a pickle with my 10 weak teeth, I would admit that He was Lord of my life. After praying, I went to my kitchen and ate some pieces of pickle with no problem. It was an amazing experience! I went on to eat some beef jerky and other hard foods for the first time in who knows how long. Not wanting to be a liar, I decided to keep my word and trust Jesus.

The pioneers began giving me Bible studies, and I found that the Communist Party education I had received was not correct. I also saw that Christians and the church are full of Jesus’ love. How could I reject such love? Repenting, I decided to follow Jesus and am now a happy old man–a Christian who really enjoys food blessed by Jesus. All this because of a pickle, a silly challenge, and a God who loves me with all of His heart!

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Gospel Outreach is a nonprofit organization fully dedicated to extending the international ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in developing areas of the world—with an emphasis on the 10/40 Window.

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Gospel Outreach has no salaried employees. Staff, officers, board members and regional directors are volunteers of singular purpose: sharing the story of Jesus with people who haven't been reached. We invite you to join in this mission.